Cleveland Browns Finally Catch A Break On Josh Gordon Ruling
By Erik Lambert
Aug 18, 2014; Landover, MD, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon (12) walks out of the locker room prior to the Browns
It’s okay to say that Josh Gordon was an idiot for getting suspended in the first place, but news of his early return is still a good thing for the Cleveland Browns.
NFL and NFLPA hammer out new drug policy
Maybe being the most hard luck franchise in existence finally gained from sympathy from what many believe is a heartless automaton hellbent on doing nothing but making money: the NFL itself. Everybody could hear the groans and see the sagging heads when news broke back in May that Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon was facing a year-long suspension for repeated violations of the league substance abuse policy. This right after the team had drafted quarterback Johnny Manziel. It was as if the cosmos was have a despicably cruel laugh at the expense of a franchise that has endured some of the most gut wrenching moments in sports history, not just football.
Now it seems the league, of all things, is coming to the rescue. In an agreement with the NFLPA, a number of changes were made to the current drug policy. Among the changes were a raise on threshold of what constitutes a positive marijuana test, the drug that got Gordon in trouble. Under the new policy, additional steps will be taken for those who do test positive before levying a suspension. While Gordon is still a repeat offender, the more lenient policy got his season-long sentence reduced to ten games.
Brian Hoyer and Browns offense could get huge boost at perfect time
That still means the Cleveland Browns will be without him for over half the season. Then again it could be a perfect opportunity. The AFC North has the look of a wide open division. If the Browns can hang around through their first ten games, even with a 5-5 record, they could set themselves up for a huge run down the final stretch spurred on by the return of Gordon to reunite with Brian Hoyer and the Browns offense. Hoyer and he formed quite the prolific tandem during their short time together in 2013. If Johnny Manziel hasn’t overtaken the veteran quarterback by that point, they will then have enough firepower to go with their strong defense to possibly make an improbable push to the playoffs.
It’s long overdue for a city that has paid its dues.